Meet Alex! Alex is an Analyst with EFI. An aspiring novelist and passionate climate action advocate, Alex helps keep EFI’s spirit up as head of the social committee.
What did you want to be when you grew up?
In elementary school, I had serious aspirations to become an architect. I would spend hours drawing out elaborate floor plans with 30 bedrooms, 3 pools, a gymnasium, and whatever else I could dream up over the years. My parents informed me that I would need to know lots of math to become an architect, though, and the idea fizzled out. Funny enough, I do math all the time at my job now!
Because I was a big dreamer, I also thought I could eventually play for the U.S. men’s national soccer team as a “side hobby.” Little Alex had his head a bit too far in the clouds.
What was your most rewarding experience prior to working at EFI?
Right after college, I interned at the United Nations Population Fund in New York City, helping to develop programs for women’s health and wellness around the world. The experience led me to meet people from dozens of countries, engage in conversations about family planning and women’s safety in the Global South, and hear truly inspiring stories about women taking on prominent leadership roles in countries where doing so is extremely uncommon.
What’s the best thing about working at EFI?
There’s so much, really. However, despite our amazing mission and the work we do, it always comes back to the people. Their curiosity and drive are infectious, and I am inspired by the energy they bring to work everyday. Everyone is wicked smart but equally humble. Most importantly, we all genuinely care about the work we get to do and are working toward a shared goal of addressing climate change. I really believe I have one of the coolest jobs in the world, and the people I work alongside are a huge part of that!
What gives you hope for the future?
I hear a lot of stories about people feeling disenfranchised, lost, and generally helpless about the state of the world. At times, I feel like my daily dose of news and social media is inundated with tragedy and defeat. It’d be easy to throw in the towel, but instead I see something else happening entirely. Massive social movements are bringing people together, creating vast networks of inspired and calculated work that is rapidly pushing dire issues into the spotlight. Climate change, racial injustice, reproductive health rights, labor movements–the list goes on. Dissatisfaction in people’s lives has turned into organization of groups who are pushing back against a status quo that has left so many feeling unheard. I believe these movements are only growing in power and purpose, and I hope people will continue to channel their frustrations into effective coalition building. Together, we can pick each other up to instill meaningful change in the world.
What is one thing on your bucket list (professional or otherwise)?
I have a great idea for a science fiction novel I would like to write. I have notebooks full of bits and pieces of the story, but I’m still looking for that thread that ties everything together. It’s been on my mind for a while, though. I started writing a novice version of this story when I was 12 years old. I would write chapter after chapter in notebooks I would carry around everywhere I went. There’s a lot that goes on, but in short, the story revolves around a future that has largely given up on combating climate change except for a few people who have radical ideas about how to solve the problem.
What is your favorite song at the moment?
“The Sound of Silence” cover by the Disturbed.
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